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Thursday, June 15, 2006
Buck up and get to the doctor
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A few months ago I was supposed to pick up my brother from the airport. He had told me via e-mail that his glasses had broken a couple of days beforehand and asked if there was a place close to the airport where we could get them fixed. I didn’t realize how broken they were until he got off the escalator. He was carrying a bag in his left hand and was using his right one to hold up what remained of his glasses so he could see. I felt bad for him, but I also chuckled inside because I thought he looked silly. I can laugh because he’s my little brother. On our way to get his glasses fixed, I asked him how long it had been since he had had his eyes checked. “I don’t know, probably about 12 years,” he said. Twelve years?! I chastised him as only a big sister can. “I know. I haven’t had time,” he said. His reason is one of the more popular excuses men give for not visiting doctors. The problem is that by not making time to go now, they risk sacrificing the time they have in the future to share with loved ones. Some of the biggest medical dangers to men, such as prostate cancer, can either be prevented or treated if caught early. I reprimanded my brother that day, but the truth is, until a couple of years ago, I was just as bad as he is. I wasn’t a big fan of preventive medicine because I wasn’t crazy about some of the exams, and I always was afraid they were going to tell me something was wrong. But those aren’t acceptable reasons. The bottom line is we all need to buck up and visit our doctors. It only takes a little time and, generally, is only a bit uncomfortable. And if there’s a problem, we need to hear about it early so we can do what’s necessary to get well. Are you and your family good about getting regular checkups?
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